Japan's Export of Mogami-class Frigates to Australia
DefenseComments
But does automation actually lower the overhead... or does it just shift the burden to specialized technicians who are harder to recruit? I wonder if the training pipeline can even handle that...
Similar issues plagued the Zumwalt class. Automation often replaces general sailors with high-cost specialists, which doesn't actually solve the personnel shortage.
read this alongside the current us force reviews in europe. allies are hedging against a retreating hegemon.
This makes sense when you look at Australia's current shipbuilding delays. They need hulls in the water now, not in ten years, and the Mogami's standardized design avoids the usual custom-build nightmares.
Why is nobody talking about the industrial play here? Japan is essentially using Australia to subsidize the scaling of its own defense industry. Is this a security pact or just a very expensive trade deal?
Does this remind anyone of the early 90s attempts at joint procurement? I wonder if the cost-sharing agreements actually hold up once the first modification request hits the table.
I disagree that this is primarily an industrial subsidy. The Mogami is already in production for the JMSDF, so the marginal cost of adding Australian hulls is relatively low compared to starting a new program.
This could actually lead to more transparent supply chains between the two nations. Sharing a platform simplifies maintenance and parts sourcing, which makes both navies more resilient in a crisis.